Olympic site comes to life

SPORTS @ THE 'NET

NBCOlympics.com -- the online home of the Torino Games -- officially launched Monday.

The site, produced in conjunction with Internet Broadcasting, will provide live results, up-to-the-minute TV listings, breaking news, feature stories and a "video intensive digital media experience never before offered by an American television network" during the Winter Olympics Feb. 10-26 in Italy.

The video component will feature the runs and routines of the top five finishers, all U.S. athletes and other notables for all Olympic events involving that competitive structure. Sports such as ice hockey and curling will be focused on highlight packages of the action for key games.

"For each of the past three Olympics, NBCOlympics.com has redefined online event coverage," NBC Olympics President Gary Zenkel said in a statement. "Through compelling video, up to-the-minute searchable schedules and listings, live results, blogs, athlete profiles, games and much more, we'll take fans closer to the athletes and games than ever before, with particular emphasis on what promises to be America's best team ever to travel to a Winter Games."

Start your engines

Another start-up sport in the early weeks of the season is . . . the envelope, please . . . NASCAR.

If your need for speed goes beyond bobsled or luge, you may want to click onto nascar.com and check out its "get behind the mic" link. Racing fans can submit questions to Marty Smith of nascar.com, and if you are a fortunate son or daughter, your question will be posted and answered.

Smith may as well go and chat with Dale Earnhardt Jr. for a while, and he has most of the answers covered. Earnhardt is clearly the fan favorite before the checkered flag drops in Daytona on Feb. 19.